Nobody knows his name... https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018...fcds-chris-richards-making-name-bayern-munich
I'm sure he loved that. Being from Alabama. Then again, If David Alaba said ANYTHING to me.... I would prolly be cool with it.
I feel really weird about how excited lately I've been about 18-20 year old boys. At least they are legal.
"Texas" is usually shortened to "Tex." for nickname purposes... anecdotally, I have received that nickname before.
I mean. If you really want to go there... I guess it depends on how you define "from". I just came from lunch. But I'm from Birmingham. I have not ever talked to Chris, but I'd be willing to bet he says he's from Alabama.
richards is by no means close to a bundesleague level defender. is he? hard to believe anything in this thread. isn't it all about bayern's board taking a management decision to plant its flag in our clearly burgeoning soccer culture? marketing plus cheap youth players, no?
Lederman joined Barcelona in 2011 when he was 11. If people were truly giddy about that, well...that's naive, given the massive attrition rate at academies from that age. Getting excited about 18-20 year olds who are already getting it done at high levels or who are clearly esteemed by club leadership is hardly the same thing.
A chronology for Richards over the past 2 years: 1) noticed by the coach of Texans SC and recruited out of Alabama to Houston, 2) won the 2016/17 DA national championship with Texans SC, 3) was recruited by FC Dallas and took over as CB for their U19s as a 17-yr-old in the fall of 2017, 4) trialed with Bayern in March and impressed, 5) signed a homegrown deal with Dallas in April, 6) some kind of joint negotiation between Dallas, Bayern and Richards' reps happened that likely resulted in a loan with a buy option 7) he went to Bayern on loan last month, 8) he played a bunch of first-team preseason minutes. 9) the chairman of Bayern mentions him as a depth first-team option for the fall. We can't go crowning him as the guy who will overtake John Brooks before 2022 just yet but it's been a meteoric 24 months for the kid and I think there's reason to be hyped. And just because he didn't spend the last three years on everyone's radar doesn't mean he can't be an elite talent.
This is the academy forum. As such threads go, it is among the most believable. I mean, do you doubt Alaba praised him? Are his preseason appearances for BM first team some elaborate scam?
believe me, I do wonder about this. ... maybe not an elaborate scam, but quite good marketing for a few meaningless preseason games ...?
I won't dispute that this could very well be the case. Still, for an academy kid, you have to admit it's pretty exciting.
Knowing Bayern, they could get two shits about propping up some MLS player during their pre-season preparations, which they take very seriously. Considering ESPN commentators didn't even realize he was American, I fail to see how this is an effective marketing ploy. Unless Bayern somehow has an interest in Bigsoccer's Yanks Abroad mobile advertising portfolio I don't know about.
Yep, exactly, completely different situations. I couldn't believe how stoked people were on Lederman playing for Barca's U12 team, like they have no understanding that over 95% of those players will never appear for Barca. In contrast there's really no reason for the coaches to pump-up some random American on loan unless they believe what they are saying.
most important groups in these football parts. but, of course, bayern's not.... it's a long play. mls owners & managers are being sung to for now - and they know he's american. btw, i have no clue. i want it to be genuine, but i wonder.
Bayern has stated they want to bring in multiple N. Americans to help avert home sickness type stuff. Still, that means they think there are at least a few N. Americans worth pursuing that they want to help in the first place. So Alphonso Davies is a big fish because of the purchase price. Is Richards also a big fish or is he there to be a friend to Fonz? Personally, I think they like him a lot but he's been accelerated because of hurt and missing players getting rest from WC. Sometimes, though players get breaks and open eyes and stick around.
I think Fonz and Texabama should ignite a fierce Canada - USA rivalry and never shake hands. Just seek and destroy.